wikishia:Featured Article/2016/40

Lady Zaynab (a) is the daughter of Imam Ali (a) and the Lady Fatima al-Zahra' (a). Many titles have been reported for her such as 'Aqilat Bani Hashim (wise woman of Banu Hashim), 'Alima Ghayr Mu'allama (the scholar without being taught).

During the residence of Imam 'Ali (a) in Kufa, she held sessions on exegesis of Qur'an for women of Kufa. Her sermons reminded the audience of the sermons of her father, Imam 'Ali (a). Her sermon in Kufa, her debate with 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad, and in the court of Yazid are very similar to those of Imam 'Ali (a), and the Fadakiyya sermon from her mother Fatima (a).

She gave so much of her time to worshiping acts that she was titled as "'Abidat Al 'Ali" (the female worshiper of the family of 'Ali). It is narrated that Imam al-Husayn (a) told her at his last moment on the day of 'Ashura, "O, my sister! Do not forget me in your night prayers."

She rescued Imam al-Sajjad (a) from death several times, one of which was in the court of 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad after that Imam al-Sajjad (a) debated with him, he ordered to kill the Imam (a), but Zaynab (a) put her hand around Imam's neck and said, "As long as I am alive, I do not let you kill him."

In the court of Yazid, she delivered an eloquent sermon which proved the rightness of Imam al-Husayn (a) and the wrongdoing of Yazid. Her logical sermon influenced the attendance very much in a way that Yazid preferred to react gently and avoid harsh decisions. Due to the enlightening of Zaynab, Yazid had to blame 'Ubayd Allah b. Ziyad for martyrdom of Imam al-Husayn (a) and cursed him. Read more